I get these calls regularly — usually late at night. A friend or family member has just been arrested, and the person on the other end of the line has no idea what happens next or how to get their loved one out. There’s a lot of general information online about criminal rights and the justice system, but not much that walks you through the actual process of getting someone out of a specific jail in a specific county.
So here’s the breakdown — start to finish — specific to Collin County, Texas.
Which Jail Is a Person Taken to After Being Arrested in Collin County?
When someone is arrested in Collin County, they’re almost always taken to the Collin County Detention Center at 4300 Community Avenue, McKinney, Texas 75071. You can reach the facility directly at (972) 547-5200, or the main Sheriff’s Office line at (972) 547-5100.
There are two reasons most arrests end up here. First, several cities in Collin County don’t have their own jail facilities and rely on the county jail. Second — and more importantly — unless someone is arrested for a Class C Misdemeanor, their charge will eventually be filed in either the county court (misdemeanors) or district court (felonies). Those courts are county courts, not city courts. It makes sense that someone whose case will be prosecuted at the county level would be held at the county jail.
Here’s a concrete example. The City of Plano has its own jail. If you’re arrested in Plano for an outstanding traffic ticket — a Class C Misdemeanor — you’ll likely be held at the Plano jail until you sort out the warrant. But if you’re arrested in Plano for DWI — a Class B Misdemeanor — you’re almost certainly going to the Collin County Detention Center, because that case will be filed in county court.
The practical takeaway: if a friend or family member has been arrested, it helps to know what they were arrested for. Once they’re out, the next question is what conditions come with the bond — see for a full breakdown. But since most arrests involve charges above a Class C, the Collin County Detention Center is the right place to start. You can search for an inmate on the Collin County Sheriff’s inmate lookup page. Keep in mind that the book-in process can take several hours, so it may take up to 24 hours for the system to reflect a new arrest.
When and How Is Bond Set After an Arrest in Collin County?
After someone is arrested and arrives at the jail, they have to be booked in. In the movies, this takes about two minutes. In real life, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Once booking is complete, the person must be brought before a magistrate or judge for bond to be set — and you can’t post bond until that happens.
Bond is typically set in the morning. If the arrest happens over the weekend, Collin County has a judge come in Saturday and Sunday mornings to set bonds for people arrested the previous day or night. In most cases, bond is set within 24 hours of arrest. Depending on the timing, though, someone can occasionally miss the judge by a matter of hours — in which case it could take up to 48 hours.
If bond hasn’t been set and you need to move faster, there’s an option — at least for misdemeanor cases. An attorney can file what’s called an attorney writ bond of habeas corpus, which forces a bond to be set as soon as it’s filed. Here’s an example of when that matters: say your friend is arrested at 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning for assault. By the time he’s booked in, the judge has already come and gone for the day. He’d either have to wait until Monday morning, or contact an attorney to file a writ bond on his behalf — which triggers an immediate bond. If you’re in that situation, call me.
You can use the same inmate lookup link above to check whether a bond has been set and, if so, how much it is.
How to Post Bond and Get Someone Released
Once bond is set, you have a few options for posting it. The Collin County Detention Center accepts bond postings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — so you don’t have to wait until business hours.
Cash Bond
You pay the full bond amount directly to the jail — in cash, money order, or cashier’s check made out to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. The benefit: once the case is resolved and all court appearances are complete, you get the money back. The refund is processed through the County Court at Law Clerks after the case is disposed. The drawback: you need the full amount on hand upfront.
Surety Bond (Bail Bondsman)
If you don’t have the full bond amount, a bail bondsman is the most common alternative. The bondsman posts the full bond on your behalf in exchange for a non-refundable fee — typically 10% of the bond amount. So if Uncle Pete’s bond is set at $1,500, the bondsman charges you $150, posts the full $1,500, and keeps the $150 as their fee regardless of how the case resolves. When the case ends, the bondsman gets their $1,500 back — you don’t. The $150 is gone either way. But Uncle Pete is out of jail.
Personal Bond (PR Bond)
A personal recognizance bond — or PR bond — means the person is released on their promise to appear in court, with no money posted. This isn’t automatic; a judge has to approve it. PR bonds are more commonly granted for lower-level offenses and defendants with strong community ties and no prior record. If you think this might be an option, it’s worth having an attorney argue for one at the bond hearing.
Pretrial Release Bond
A pretrial release bond requires a non-refundable fee of 3% of the bond amount — or $20, whichever is higher. Like a PR bond, this requires judge approval. It’s a middle ground between a full cash bond and a surety bond.
What Happens After Someone Is Released from Jail?
Once bond is posted and your loved one is released, the waiting begins. A lot of people assume that being arrested means being charged. That’s not actually the case — arrest and formal charge are two separate things.
For misdemeanors (Class A or Class B), the formal charging instrument is called an information. The District Attorney reviews the facts and decides whether there’s enough evidence to move forward. This typically takes 6–8 weeks after the arrest, sometimes longer. Once an information is filed, a first court date is usually set about a month out.
For felonies, the formal charging instrument is called an indictment. Unlike a misdemeanor, the DA can’t file a felony indictment unilaterally — the evidence has to be presented to a Grand Jury, who must agree there’s sufficient evidence to proceed. This process typically takes 8–12 weeks after arrest. Once an indictment is filed, you’ll receive notice of a first court date the same way.
The time between arrest and formal charge is a good time to talk to an attorney — before the case gets filed and before decisions get made that are harder to walk back.
Is This Process the Same for Everyone?
No. What I’ve described here is the general framework — a starting point to help you understand the basic process and terminology. The criminal justice system has exceptions to almost every rule, and the specifics can vary based on the charge, the person, and the circumstances. If you have questions about a particular arrest or case, call me directly and I’ll give you a straight answer.
Where is the Collin County jail located?
The Collin County Detention Center is at 4300 Community Avenue, McKinney, Texas 75071. The main Sheriff’s Office number is (972) 547-5100; the detention facility direct line is (972) 547-5200. The facility accepts bond postings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How long does it take to bond someone out of Collin County jail?
Bond can’t be posted until a judge sets it — and that typically happens within 24 hours of arrest. Collin County has judges come in Saturday and Sunday mornings for this purpose. Depending on the exact timing of the arrest, someone could wait up to 48 hours. Once bond is set and posted, release usually follows within a few hours. For misdemeanor cases where bond is delayed, an attorney can file an attorney writ bond to accelerate the process.
How much does a bail bondsman charge in Collin County?
The standard rate is 10% of the bond amount, non-refundable. On a $1,500 bond, that’s $150. On a $10,000 bond, that’s $1,000. The bondsman keeps that fee regardless of how the case turns out — it’s the cost of the service, not a deposit.
What is a personal bond (PR bond) in Texas?
A personal recognizance bond allows someone to be released from jail on their promise to appear in court — no money posted. A judge has to approve it; it’s not automatic. It’s more commonly granted for lower-level offenses and first-time defendants. An attorney can argue for a PR bond at the bond hearing, which is one reason it’s worth making that call early.
What is an attorney writ bond in Texas?
An attorney writ bond of habeas corpus is a legal filing — available for misdemeanor cases — that forces a bond to be set immediately, without waiting for the next scheduled magistrate hearing. If someone is arrested at an unusual time and would otherwise have to wait an extra day or more for bond to be set, this is the fastest way to move things along. I can file one on your behalf.
Do I get a cash bond refunded after the case is over?
Yes — if you posted a cash bond and the defendant appeared for all required court dates, the bond amount is refunded after the case is resolved. The refund is processed through the County Court at Law Clerks. It doesn’t happen automatically the day the case closes — there’s a processing period — but you do get the money back.
What’s the difference between being arrested and being charged?
Arrest and formal charge are two separate events. When someone is arrested, the police have taken them into custody — but the District Attorney hasn’t officially filed a charge yet. For misdemeanors, the DA files an information, typically within 6–8 weeks of arrest. For felonies, the DA must present evidence to a Grand Jury before an indictment can be filed, which usually takes 8–12 weeks. Until that formal charge is filed, the case isn’t officially in the court system.
Serving All of Collin County
I defend clients throughout Collin County, including:
Charged with a Crime?
A criminal conviction in Texas can have permanent consequences. Beyond the immediate criminal penalties, a conviction may affect your job, your record, your driving privileges, and your future. The right defense, started early, can change the outcome of your case.
I’ll be straight with you about your situation, explain all of your options, and fight hard for the best possible outcome — no obligation, no hard sell. I personally read and respond to every message, typically within a few hours.